Suspect In Custody After Police Standoff

SCRANTON — A man is in custody after he was in a standoff with officers through most of the morning, according to Scranton Police.

Because of that standoff, two schools and a daycare closed for the day.

Scranton police tell us this all started with a neighborhood noise complaint.

Officers say Stephen Lahey, 31, is being questioned at police headquarters and he is expected to be charged.

While many people along Boulevard Avenue in Scranton were sleeping, police surrounded an apartment building and tried ordering a man inside to come out. A negotiator tried for hours to coax the man out.

All of the noise woke up many people including Jim Walsh.

“As I was getting ready to sit down and have coffee and breakfast and whatnot, I hear a gunshot, which was tear gas. They launched about 12 of them through the window.”

Acting Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano says the standoff started after neighbors called in a noise complaint.

“When they came to the door, the man came to the door, threatened to kill the officers and walked back in, said he was getting his shotgun,” Graziano said.

As tactical officers kept a close eye on the apartment building, authorities told administrators at Robert Morris Elementary nearby St. Clare, St. Paul schools to close as a safety precaution.

Carol Evanusa tried dropping her grandkids off at Green Ridge Child Care Center before word got out that the day care had also closed

“I’m really glad that it didn’t happen while they were in day care,” Evanusa said.

Broken windows and shattered glass show where Scranton Police used flash bang grenades as well as tear gas, to try and get the man out of the apartment building. Officers say they had to wait to make sure no one else was inside.”

Six and half hours into the standoff, police say tactical technology helped them determine where the man was inside. Officers stormed in using the back deck and hauled the shirtless man out. Police identified him as Stephen Lahey, 31.

Donna Gibbs says she didn’t get much sleep because of the standoff but she is relieved that everyone is safe.

“I was afraid to open my door today because I didn’t know if the guy was on the loose or not. It’s scary for this to happen so close to home,” Gibbs said.

Officers spent some time searching that apartment building. It’s still unclear if Lahey even had a gun when he threatened officers.

18 comments

Connie

I am going to make this real simple. THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION!!! There is not one thing this man did outside of his constitutional rights… Whether or not it be freedom of speech, right to bar arms or right to protect personal property… Its is obvious that our constitution has been suspended if these actions can take place without criminal charges filed against them. Sound like MARITAL LAW anyone? This guy is obliviously a hippy and knows what he can and can not say to the police. And what do hippies believe in?! LOVE! It’s evident that the report was worded to sound in favor of the police. When this is clearly a violation of our constitutional rights. And people just watch and go on about their day. Please wake up friends. Concerned American Citizen.

Ric

Connie is correct. I don’t see much in the way of support for Scranton’s version of Storm Troopers. UNFORTUNATELY, it is close to being too late. We have become enslaved by out servants. Our school systems don’t teach much in the way of truth when it comes to history. We lost it the same way the Germans did, with speeches, promises and lies. We were told we could trade freedoms for security. BEN FRANKLIN, contemporary of William Penn, told us if we made such a trade we would have neither. It has happened.

If you own property, you are only renting it from the taxing authorities. If you don’t comply, you lose your property. Pennsylvania was settled by Germanic immigrants. We don’t have rights.We can’t vote on the laws which control us. Need I say more?

As for the CONSTITUTION, can you afford to fight for your rights? I didn’t think so. Lawyers cost way too much. When our “servants” use lawyers, we pay for that also. When they get more “toys” and deprive individuals such as this man, we pay for those also.

Charly Lucky

what a waste of taxpayer money. They come in like a bunch of soldiers for that guy?OMG. Terroristict threats? Thats the charge cops use to justify all this. He threw a bottle, and said get outta here, or else, BIG BIG THREAT!!!! Why can’t the cops try to just calm the situation down, instead of escalate it to SWAT TEAM ON SCENE????

Kevin

EXACTLY! I’m with you, Charly. I’m having a real hard time figuring out how a noise complaint turned into a full-scale military invasion. Those images look ridiculous. I mean no offense to the good hard-working police officers out there, but this is really starting to creep out of control.

Kevin

Brian

Does not make sense. If he made those comments to the police why did they let him go back into the house? As soon as he made the threats he should have been apprehended immediately.The Police officers could have taken him to the ground before he walked back inside or worse case senario kick the door down before he could retrieve the so called weapon. No need to go Call of Duty in Scranton!!!!

VikiMak

Ric

The Scranton Police have proven they can create more of Noise Compliant than the accused. This report, based on police generated information, gives no details on the reality of why they wanted the 31 year old man to come out. Noise compliant are more usually with a knock on the door and a minor summons at worst. Why did this escalate?

One thing might be the Thousands of taxpayer dollars were part of a scenario play to prove the badges can still be bullies, still destroy and still damage private taxpayer owned property with expensive, LOUD and DANGEROUS (high heat producing) “flash-bang” devices. Just who is creating the noise?

The only equipment not reference here was the Armored Personnel Carrier. The police, or at least the press, missed this. If they build it, they will come” should not be the highest reason for owning these weapons. The police issued no justification for their heavy handed action.

The Scranton police used the heavy version of equipment used by the T.S.A. at airports which can see you naked beneath your clothes. Maybe the local mayor who recently reduced the police to minimum wage has a point.

As for the press, putting comments from some one not knowledgeable of situation degrades your professionalism also. Why we that needed? Was this your “flash-bang?”

Gay Chris

ME

Good God! Put a shirt on and wash and comb your hair. A good haircut wouldn’t hurt either. I know neighbors can be yucksters, but this is taking things too far and the only person you’re hurting is yourself.

angelina

Kevin

It seems he provided an excuse for the police to pretend they were in their own real-life “Watertown” for the day. Disgusting. For all I know, this suspect is nuttier than a squirrel turd, but this police response to a noise complaint is even nuttier. Any excuse to pull out all of their military “toys”, and play Army against the citizens of Scranton.